Assembly Members may be recalled during recess after the Welsh Government was defeated in a bid to vote on council tax benefit changes.

Assembly Members may be recalled during recess after the Welsh Government was defeated in a bid to vote on council tax benefit changes.

Council tax benefits for 330,000 homes in Wales could be affected after the vote, which was the last item of plenary business before the Assembly enters its Christmas break.

Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant had attempted to temporarily suspend Assembly rules to allow a vote on rushed-through council tax benefit regulations.

But enough oppositions AMs – including the Tory and Liberal Democrat groups – voted against the measure to mean the Welsh Government did not reach its required two-thirds majority, with 33 voting in favour and 18 against.

In fiery scenes in the Senedd, Mr Sargeant was accused of orchestrating a “total shambles” and of treating the Assembly with “contempt”.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas told the chamber: “In 13 years of being a member here, I have seen some pretty poor practice in terms of governance – this is the worst example I have ever seen.”

The UK Government handed over responsibility for the benefit to the devolved administrations and councils, but the Welsh Government said that it only got figures on levels of council tax benefit at 5.15pm Wednesday, meaning it could not prepare regulations in time.

Opposition politicians said that they only received regulations, which numbered around 340 pages, from Mr Sargeant minutes before the vote proceedings began.

The Welsh Government is likely to request a recall of the Assembly during the Christmas break, which will be decided by the Presiding Officer, in an attempt to pass the regulations, which allow councils to set their council tax levels for the next financial year.

Plaid Cymru had earlier indicated they would be willing to support passing the regulation, if a “sunset clause” was inserted to allow scrutiny of the legislation down the line.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, its spokesman on local government, said: “The Welsh Government has acted with complete irresponsibility, placing some of the poorest and most vulnerable in a situation where they cannot receive council tax benefit.”

He added: “We should not be in this situation, since I warned the Minister eight months ago that this could arise. These regulations could have been put in place months ago, permitting full scrutiny.

“Unfortunately, the government has chosen to pick a fight with Westminster rather than safeguarding the interests of the poor and vulnerable.”

Peter Black, the Welsh Liberal Democrat local government spokesman said they didn’t support the measure “as a matter of principle”.

He said: “The Assembly has had little time to scrutinise 340 pages of complex regulations that deal with council tax benefits.

“There was no regulatory impact assessment, no explanatory memorandum and no opportunity to scrutinise ministers on how their scheme works.

“This is not way the Assembly should pass regulations. We want to more time to look at what the Labour Government is proposing and we are prepared to come back during recess to look at these regulations.”

Mr Sargeant said that Tory AMs should “hang their heads in shame” as they indulged in “irresponsible posturing”.

He said: “Today they had the opportunity to step up to the plate and do the right thing for people and families all over Wales.

“Instead, they have ensured that 330,000 households enter Christmas and the New Year with needless financial uncertainty.

“The Welsh Government will strain every sinew to ensure people receive this benefit on time. We will not rest until they receive the financial help they are entitled to.”

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